Alongside Coutinho and Modric in midfield, perhaps.
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Alongside Coutinho and Modric in midfield, perhaps.
Second best player on the pitch today
Exactly. Also in the midfield I think especially Kante is making a big difference. Today Pogba played in a different role, a more reserved deeper role next to Kante. He didn't play on the left side of 4-3-3 or anything. He played central next to Kante and they were both intercepting everything and Pogba could then drive through the midfield and pick his passes with time. On the left he gets more crowded out easily but today Matuidi was defending on that side and Pogba still had the license he would usually have on that side. Matic I think is a problem. He is a very good interceptor like Kante but he hasn't got the legs to get around the pitch. At the start of the season this wasn't a problem and Pogba could play in a midfield two with him but as the season progresses Matic tired and Pogba couldn't influence the game as much offensively so he had to play deep and also stay deep so he didn't get caught out of position. Something that Pogba struggled with. Matic is a good player don't get me wrong but he lacks the dynamism of Kante and even Matuidi. If he tires again next season I feel we will see the same things again. If there was any chance of breaking the bank for Kante Id do it but I'm hearing Fred is like him but with more passing ability. He should also have the dynamism and energy to compliment our ponderous midfield so let's see.
I'd be furious if he was sold with Jose staying on.
He was very good today. Him and Kante have good chemistry together.
He was very good today. Him and Kante have good chemistry together.
Was great today . When he has players around him Like Mbappe and Kante and others he shines . We need to have that quality around him and he will shine .
Thought he ran the game today for France. Pure excellence!
The quotes last week about having issues with Mourinho at first over been dropped, and then realising he has to learn from it, hopefully is him waking up because he is such a special player. That ball to Mbappe in the first half, from the free kick was frightening
The vision and intelligence to see it....Dare I say it, not seen that kinda passing since Scholes, Keane and Becks
The quotes last week about having issues with Mourinho at first over been dropped, and then realising he has to learn from it, hopefully is him waking up because he is such a special player. That ball to Mbappe in the first half, from the free kick was frightening
The vision and intelligence to see it....Dare I say it, not seen that kinda passing since Scholes, Keane and Becks
Good thing that he decided to show up. France is toothless without Pogba.
He had one for us that was several times more brilliant. If I recall correctly it was a similar pass to Mata who screwed up the first touch but still won a penalty. I'm sure I could find the video but seriously can't be arsed. I'm sure people already remember the one I'm talking about just from memory
With a player like Pogba, think it's really important to have fluid movement ahead of him and a mobile midfield partner. Pogba also has to become a more complete midfielder
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What a performance. Why can’t he perform at such maturity for us? His overall play seemed so mature and experienced
Maybe there's something wrong with me, but I didn't see any sign of maturity or leadership. That's Pogba. His ability allows him to produce a lot, like today. But he can't dominate the midfield like the really good ones.
Yeah, the people that bragged how good he was are the ones that destroy him if he doesn’t score a hat-rick.
Having a very good world cup so far...
The problem has never been about performing well.
It's about consistency. He's had superb performances for us too.
He needs to be more consistent. No one is expecting a 9/10 or 10/10 performance every game, but he needs more stability in his performances.
Hopefully this WC is the beginning.
Did very well yesterday and not just on the ball. Worked hard for the team to be in position and close down his opposition midfielders
Because there is too much pressure on his shoulders to do everything at United. With France he is more relaxed and takes more of a back seat, pinging balls around from deep and letting others do most of the running. Pogba hasn't got an engine but what he brings is the finesse. The killer pass, the killer run. At United he is being asked to be the engine and affect games offensively at the same time which is not working. Anyway let's hope he brings this form back to the PL.
The same Lukaku who is on fire this tournament?
Both Lukaku and Pogba have shown that they are very good players. Just need a system in which all of them can shine together.
Lukaku and Sanchez are perpetual motion machines. And Lingard has some of the best movement I've seen in years. Easily on par with anyone in the league or even at the World Cup. The problem isn't with them, it's with Pogba himself.
Pogba's a great AM for Italian football. But his record for Juve at CL level was poor. Just as his record at PL level has been massively inconsistent.
Re-watch the Pogba highlights for the Argentina match. Pogba's starting position was frequently around the halfway line. That's where he's at his best. Our issue last season was that we had nobody ahead of Pogba to take the creative burden. So he ended playing too far forward and overcomplicating things. It's his drive that we need to emphasise in our tactics.
If you want to get the best out of Pogba, stick an actual AM/SS in front of him. Don't ask him to be one. We still need to buy.
Pogba's a great AM for Italian football. But his record for Juve at CL level was poor. Just as his record at PL level has been massively inconsistent.
Re-watch the Pogba highlights for the Argentina match. Pogba's starting position was frequently around the halfway line. That's where he's at his best. Our issue last season was that we had nobody ahead of Pogba to take the creative burden. So he ended playing too far forward and overcomplicating things. It's his drive that we need to emphasise in our tactics.
If you want to get the best out of Pogba, stick an actual AM/SS in front of him. Don't ask him to be one. We still need to buy.
Mourinho never asked Pogba to be the AM...unfortunately.
He prefers Lingard/Mkhi/Mata in that position
I feel as though you don't watch United play very much.Mourinho never asked Pogba to be the AM...unfortunately.
He prefers Lingard/Mkhi/Mata in that position
Pogba was never AM/SS, you didn't watch him at Juve where they tried to play him in AM/SS? Pogba's best position is on left midfield with freedom, he could play any of position such as DLP, DM and 8/6. Pogba has a great record for Juve at the champions league, he is in the team of UCL 2015, I don't know why you are exaggerating.
If you told him he didn't watch United very much, I wonder if you actually watched United play every game.
Wrong. I watch every game...and I don't remember Pogba playing as an AM or SS.
Can you give me the games where he played in those positions ? ...I want to laugh
And please don't say stoke City at the beggining of the season..it was a midfield 3 even if Sky said that he played as AM that wasn't the case
But I remember Pogba as AM with Juventus with only 2 players ( Dybala/Mandzukic or Morata/Zaza ) in front of him. That was NEVER the case with Manchester United
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You cant take the ball off him, if he can be arsed he can run the show, passing left right and centre. I thought he was magnificent yesterday, best i have seen him play since the City game.
Pogba is an enigma. Some seem to think he plays too far back, others seem to think too far forward. Maybe its in the middle since he's a centre midfielder and affects multiple areas of the pitch.
He actually seems to fit the no.10 role of a Mourinho team:
“I like a number 10 to score goals. I like a number 10 to get in the box. I like a number 10 to score goals like Oscar's against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
“A number 10 for me is an eight-and-a-half when the team loses the ball, and the number 10 is a nine-and-a-half when the team has the ball.
“Who is my perfect number 10? Wesley Sneijder and Deco. Because they could defend, get in the box and finish goals? Yes.”
Pogba has that special quality to him, he can do everything to a good level except DM.
He actually seems to fit the no.10 role of a Mourinho team:
“I like a number 10 to score goals. I like a number 10 to get in the box. I like a number 10 to score goals like Oscar's against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
“A number 10 for me is an eight-and-a-half when the team loses the ball, and the number 10 is a nine-and-a-half when the team has the ball.
“Who is my perfect number 10? Wesley Sneijder and Deco. Because they could defend, get in the box and finish goals? Yes.”
Pogba has that special quality to him, he can do everything to a good level except DM.
That's a poor compilation, btw — even off the top of my head it lacks his best pass of the game, the one to Mbappe after a foul on him.
He's had great games for Juve in the CL (take a look at his performance against Bayern, for example) — and it wasn't one off, he's had more than a few of those.
I agree that Pogba is a central midfielder and not an attacking one though, it's quite obvious and he should never play as a #10.
He did a few times, playing him as a #10 and not as a deeper player in a flat midfield three. Not that often — and he learned that it's not the best use of him (hence the emergence of Lingard etc.)Mourinho never asked Pogba to be the AM...unfortunately.
He prefers Lingard/Mkhi/Mata in that position
When ?
He played in a midfield 2 or 3. Never in #10 but against Everton he played very high on the pitch...like a left winger and that was his best game of the season.
Pogba played as a no.10 a few times, but the problem was that the midfield behind him was always a mash-up. For example Herrera-Fellaini against Liverpool at Anfield.
Against Liverpool in 16/17, for example. I was never good at recalling particular games though (I envy those who do), but he was definitely used as a #10 in 4-2-3-1 a few times (and not as a left/right midfielder in 4-3-3, which is his best position).
We parked the bus against Liverpool but yes with Ibra he played very high and he created the best chance of the game.
But I don't remember a game where he clearly played as #10. He mades a lot of defensive work at Anfield...
I’m a little fed up with him to be honest. All we hear is that we need to play him in a certain position to get the best out of him or, who do we need to buy to get the best out of him. He’s NOT a game changer and we certainly shouldn’t be moulding our signings just to get the best from him. Seemingly he can ONLY be effective on the left of a three man midfielder. This offers us no flexibility and to be perfectly honest is rather see us swap him out with someone new.
He's been pretty good for France as a CM in the World Cup
Him and Matuidi have taken turns joining the attack, and both operate all over the pitch instead of on a specific flank. If anything, Pogba has been more right sided.
He's been pretty good for France as a CM in the World Cup
Him and Matuidi have taken turns joining the attack, and both operate all over the pitch instead of on a specific flank. If anything, Pogba has been more right sided.
Yes, yesterday at least he was opposite Banega on the right hand side of France's midfield and won the battle. Kante was on the left helping deal with Messi come inside
He's been pretty good for France as a CM in the World Cup
Him and Matuidi have taken turns joining the attack, and both operate all over the pitch instead of on a specific flank. If anything, Pogba has been more right sided.
I agree with the start of you post specifically. He’s been pretty good, but that’s it. I just don’t seem him as an extraordinary player which you would think you’d get from £89m. I want him to produce extraordinary performances more often but all too often like many “top” players these days they seem to want to do things that they really don’t need to do.
He does seem to have kept things more simple this World Cup and I wish he would do it more often. Forget the tricks and the needless drag backs that slow the game down. I think if he minimises Those parts and starts pinging quicker balls that he is obviously capable of both he and us as a team will improve massively.
Not a game changer who got 6+16 from central midfield in a supposedly awful season and is currently having a great World Cup. Get rid!
I honestly don’t want to bash him too much. That’s certainly not my intention at all but I also think he can do a LOT better than that if as I said he stops the show pony antics that come out every game and get him no where. There is a time and place for that sort of thing and I think he should have learnt when this is by now. Also I don’t think 6 goals is actually that great in a season of 40+ games for a player of his supposed quality.
Ji Sung Park, Rooney in his younger days, Tevez, Sanchez, Lingard. These players are. Lukaku is not.
You seem to always have a negative view of Pogba, he's doing what most want him to do for United at this World Cup. Consistently high performance level, consistently affecting games. You seem to constantly talk about what he doesn't do.
Then describe Lukaku as a perpetual motion machine, whatever he is....he isn't that.
Glad people are giving his performances the credit they deserve. My non-United supporting mates can't stop telling me every day how he's been a disaster at this cup and should be dropped by France. He's been superb.
I've gotten used to the non-United fans taking shots at him (though they all see far more keenly aware of his social media activity than most United fans). It's the large number of United fans who are reluctant to give him any credit that drive me crazy.
I am usually good at calling out people who chat shit and say a player is garbage. I'll just ask on the spot what particular assets suck so bad and what makes them so terrible and it's either "Errr, errr..." or it's something regurgitated that I've personally seen as a headline on some media outlet. It's very seldom a genuine opinion formed on what's actually happened. I watched the France-Argentina game with a Pogba hater that doesn't think he's good enough to play in England and he was slating him the whole game saying how bad he was and was doing nothing even when he was winning the ball, splitting the defense, spreading the ball and he'd laugh when France scored because it wasn't Pogba (despite being a Messi and Argentina fanboy). The game was more about Pogba than Argentina-France. Every touch is "He's shit. He's shit".
The obsession in general with Pogba is insane. I work with a bloke who's a United fan and he's the same after every game "Pogba this. Pogba that". The media really got through to people on him and most are too stubborn to just view something objectively now.
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